iQOO has started taking advance orders for the iQOO 15T in China, and at the same time has given us a first look at the Pad 6 Pro and TWS 5i earbuds. This suggests the company is focusing on phones and other devices that last a long time on a single charge, and also wants to have a wider range of connected products. They haven’t said when they’ll officially launch these, but many expect it to happen later this month. It’s not yet known if the phones will be sold in India.
Here are the headline developments buyers should note:
– iQOO 15T pre-orders are live in China
– Pad 6 Pro and TWS 5i teased alongside
– No official specifications confirmed yet
– Launch timing hinted for later this month
iQOO 15T targets battery-first buyers with a new chip strategy
Information that has been leaked indicates the 15T is moving away from the Qualcomm chip found in the iQOO 15, and will use MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500. This is a significant change, and could mean a change in how well it performs and how much it costs. The iQOO 15 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, so the type of processor in the 15T is a core part of what makes it different.
Digital Chat Station has shown pictures and given details of the phone: it has a square section on the back for the cameras, a metal edge with lines for the antennas, and will be silver in color. The screen is expected to be 6.83 inches across, flat, with a very sharp 2K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate (making things look very smooth), and a fingerprint scanner built into the screen using ultrasound.
It looks like iQOO is really trying to do well with the cameras. Leaks say it will have a 200MP Samsung HP5 main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) which is an improvement on the 50MP camera in the iQOO 15. Battery life is also a big focus, with the phone likely having a large 8,000mAh battery and 100W fast charging.
Alongside those, it’s expected to be able to record 8K video, have Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, be protected against water and dust with IP68 and IP69 ratings, and have an X-axis linear motor for more precise vibrations. Because phones from OnePlus and others are now having larger batteries, the 15T’s expected features seem to be designed to compete with those.
Pre-orders begin as the design stays mostly hidden
iQOO’s official teasers only show the side of the phone, and it’s thin and flat with a camera bump that isn’t too big. They aren’t showing the front or back completely, but by keeping it minimal, they’re emphasizing how thin the phone is.
Even though pre-orders are open, iQOO hasn’t officially said what the phone’s specs are. We’re expecting a full announcement later this month, but they haven’t given a specific date. Right now, the teasers and leaks are forming what people are thinking about the phone.
Pad 6 Pro and TWS 5i broaden the line-up
The Pad 6 Pro is shown briefly in green, and is thin with a round section on the back for the camera. The leaks suggest a 13.2-inch LCD screen with a 4K resolution, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 13,000mAh battery with 90W charging. From what people are saying, it’s very similar to the Vivo Pad 6 Pro.
The TWS 5i earbuds have a stick-type design and come with a black and gold case. iQOO says they’ll get up to 50 hours of use from a single charge, and have a very quick 42ms delay, which is good for casual gaming. iQOO says these will be launched at the same time as the 15T.
Pricing cues, competition, and India outlook
The iQOO 15 line now includes the 15R, 15, 15T and 15 Ultra. Instead of just having a really good and a slightly better model, iQOO is making phones for different ways people use them: the 15 is a good all-rounder, the Ultra is the one with the very best specs, the 15R is for people who want good value for their money, and the 15T (based on the leaks) is for those who want a very long lasting battery and a main camera with a lot of megapixels.
Switching to the Dimensity 9500 chip could allow the 15T to be priced between the 15R and 15, without reducing the important features. This could be important as many flagship phones are now focused on battery life and camera megapixels are a big part of advertising.
The situation in India isn’t as clear. iQOO hasn’t said if they’ll sell the phones there, and they usually only release some of their Chinese models in India. They don’t sell tablets in India, and their only wireless earbuds are the TWS 1e which came out in August 2024, so it looks like these new products will be available in China first.
Now that pre-orders have begun in China, the main questions are how much they will cost, how much the MediaTek chip will change things, and whether iQOO will bring this focus on long battery life to India. For now, iQOO is letting the teasers and leaks get people interested.
